Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-10-27

the worst. 1t came about a week
later-after many nights of weary
watching my wife fell into peaceful
slumber from which she never awoke.
The end came one fine Sabbath morn
ing when the church bells were sum-
moning the people to worship.
''My home was broken up. plunged
into business harder than ever in order
to stifle and forget the effects OF my
bereavements. l became reckless and
lost considerable money that ordinary
caution would have prevented. Three
years passed; still lived in the old
house which had been the scene of so
much happiness, but now was so desc
late.
az was advised by friends to sell the
property, move elsewhere and take a
wife. But l still held the memory of
my wife too sacred to think of any one
else in that light.
From time to time I advertised in a
general way offering a reward for in
formation relative to Mabel's where
abouts, but met with failure in every
instance.
My room in the house was on the
first or parlor floor Immediately in the
rear of the back parlor. From the
back parlor a glass door connected
with small veranda that stood at the
side of the house. 1t was my habit
in warm weather to leave the doors
open in both parlors SO as to get a
Of oil he
dow.
"One night sat up later than usual,
writing some letters that wished to
send by the early mail next day. 1
was sitting at my desk in little room
off my bedroom. 1t was nearly mid
night, and the housekseper and two
servants were in their rooms overhead,
in the rear portion of the house.
alt was very quiet; nothing but the
scratching of my pen and the ticking
of the little clock on the mantel in the
next room disturbed the absolute still
ness of the hour. During a pause in
my writing l fancied L heard a slight
noise at the glass door. 1 listened and
as it was not repeated 1 resumed my
writing. A few minutes later heard
the knob of the glass door turn softly as
if some one was trying to get 1T. At the
same time thought 1 saw the shadow
of a man on the wall of the house next
10 mine.
There hung on the wall of my room
Il Winchester rifle which had been my
good and trusty companion during my
sharpshooting days when 1 was in the
Wilderness with General Grant. There
had been some burglaries committed in
our block the week previous and l had
cleaned and reloaded the rifle.
1T was the work of a moment to
cross the room, take down the weapon.
cock it, and advance into the back par
lor. 1t would be certain death for the
burglar if 1 shot at him, for 1 had
picked off many a rebel while 1 was in
the Wilderness, and never was known
to miss my man.
81 stood thus for perhaps two min
uteS in no little suspense when the door
knob was again tried and Il head ap-
peared just above the edge of the wood
work below the glass. assumed that
the burglar was on his knees trying the
lock. I Immediately called out in a
loud voice:
-. Throw up your hands or I'll fire at
you,' and taking deliberate aim at the
head l counted: Zone. two'--just then
my finger began to press the trigger
when a child's voice called out: Don't
fire. papa. it is me, come back to you
and mammal
81 dropped the rifle to the floor; a
cold perspiration covered me and l
trembled from head to foot. 1 stag
gered to the door and with nerveless
fingers, unlocked it somehow.
1.-The next instant nay long-lost child
was being nearly crushed in my arms,
and wept the first tears of joy of my
life.
by this time the housekeeper and
two servants appeared, the gas was
lighted and the uproar increased by
one of the girls going into Mysteries.
"a policeman came to inquire the
cause of the disturbance and was
amazed when grabbed him around his
ample wrist and exclaimed: Thank
Godr When the housekeeper told him
about it he rubbed his sleeve over his
eyes and said he was glad, too, and
went out. A reporter for a morning
paper came and got the facts in the
case. My Mabel had grown about a
head taller. She was thinner than
when she left US three years before.
She was ragged and dirty, but then 1
had her back again.
''She was taken in charge by the
housekeeper, who had by this time re-
stored the hysterical woman.
Perhaps you would like to know
where my child had been all these
three long years.
at seems that on that eventful Sep
TENDER day she was walking down the
gravel walk to the gate expecting to